Gardaí are investigating whether a young man was lured by phone call to an ambush where he was shot and left with horrific injuries.

Eddie Staunton (25), a cousin of slain feud murder victim Gary Hutch, was understood to be recovering well last night after being shot twice at about 9.55pm on Sunday in Dublin's north inner city.

Sources say the shooting has led to an increase in tensions in the area.

There are fears that some of the Hutch gang may attempt to avenge the shooting of Staunton.

The Irish Independent understands that criminals are blaming a young associate of a star Irish soccer player for luring Mr Staunton to the incident.

Staunton was shot twice as he was being administered first aid following a hit-and-run incident, which is linked to the murder bid.

The soccer star's associate is aged in his early 20s and is a suspected low-level drug dealer.

An older relative of this young man, who is aged in his 30s, previously had very close links to the Kinahan cartel and was involved in laundering money for the international crime gang.

Sources said that Sunday night's shooting may be linked to a "deal that went wrong".

"The footballer's close associate is suspected of making a phone call that led to Mr Staunton cycling in the area," a source said last night.

Mr Staunton is not involved in crime or the capital's deadly gangland feud between some of his associates and the Kinahan cartel. No arrests have yet been made in relation to Sunday night's shooting, but it is understood that the gunman was unmasked.